+44 (0) 20 8248 3818 administrator@stmaryatfinchley.org.uk

The parish church of central Finchley
26 Hendon Lane, Finchley, London N3 1TR

Join us in church on Sundays at 8am & 10am, or online at 7pm
Posted September 29th, 2026

Night Shelter Volunteers

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are looking for volunteers to help with the Winter Shelter rota here at St Mary’s. We will host 15-17 selected guests in our halls. The Night Shelter will run overnight from Sunday evening until Monday morning as follows. Volunteers can take various roles, and you do not need to volunteer to help on all seven dates.

Sun 8/Mon 9 Nov
Sun 15/Mon 16 Nov
Sun 22/Mon 23 Nov
Sun 29/Mon 30 Nov
Sun 6/Mon 7 Dec
Sun 13/Mon 14 Dec
Sun 20/Mon 21 Dec

If you are able to volunteer, please let us know which role/s below you can do and your available date/s by emailing Latifa, Akosua and Smita wintershelter@stmaryatfinchley.org.uk We will also need your full name, phone number and email address. Please let us know by the end of Sunday 11 October at the latest.

Roles available:

  • Team Leaders to coordinate staff 5.30pm – 10pm
  • Cooking or providing a main course and dessert for up to 17 guests to be served at 8.00pm on Sunday (kitchen available from 4pm) Note: we already have a cook for Sunday 6 December.
  • Serving hot drinks and dinner then clearing up 6pm – 10pm on Sunday.
  • Sleeping over on the floor with one other person (in a separate room from our guests) from Sunday 9.30pm to Monday 6.30am, to provide security for our guests.
  • Cooking and serving breakfast then clearing up on Mondays 6.30am until 8.30am.
  • Cleaning on Monday mornings from 8.30am until 9.00am, followed by help with setting up our Acorns playgroup.
  • Loading, transporting and unloading bedding to another venue in Barnet on Monday mornings at 9.00am (large car or van preferred to save multiple trips)
  • Volunteers will be allocated on a first come, first come basis. The more volunteers we have the less work there is for everyone.

Training will be provided by Homeless Action in Barnet (HAB) on Zoom at 7pm on Wednesday 14 October. If you are unable to attend, we will send the presentation to you.

If you are not able to volunteer on site please also let us know if you, or somebody that you know, can donate an evening meal for up to 17 guests – we can arrange for this to be picked up. We already have a cook for Sunday 6 December so no food is necessary that evening.